Fruit-picking machine.



AMOS CHURCHILL PITMAN, OF BROOKTYN,

Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT Grains.

CANADA.

FRUlT-PICKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,673, dated April 4,1905. Application filed December 28, 1904.. Serial Ho. 238,566.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, AMos CHURCHILL P11- MAN, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Yarmouth, Province ofNova Scotia, Canada, haveinvented a certain new and useful Fruit-PackingMachine, of which the following is a specification,

reference being bad therein to the accoinpanying drawings.

This invention relates to fruit-picking machines, the object of theinvention being to produce a light, portable, and easily-handledimplement embodying a light-weight pole or handle of tubularconstruction, forming a conduit for the fruit, and cutting mechanism ofsuch construction and arrangement as to facilitate and insure the promptand efficient severing of the stems of the fruit one piece afteranother, the cutting-blade being located at one end of the tubularhandle and under easy and complete control of the attendant by means ofa manually-operated device at or near the opposite end of the handle.The handle is of sectional construction, so that it may be lengthened orshortenechas desirable or necessary to adapt it to trees of varioussizes.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will morefully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinfully described, illustrated. and claimed.

1n the accom 'mnying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of thefruit-picking machinel Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4: is a view inelevation of the movable cutter. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the fixedhead or cutter. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of parts of thecutter-operating mechanism.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures 0fthe drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the stock or handle of themachine orimplement, the said handle being of tubular or hollowconstruction, as shown, and preferably consistingof sections, in anydesired number, adapted to fit one into another for the purpose ofenabling fruit to be reached at desired elevation from the surface ofthe ground. Any suitable joint may be made where the sections meet andengage each other. For ex ample, they may be made so as to slide ortelescope one within the other.

Upon the upper end of the upper section of the handle or stock there isplaced a head 2, which also constitutes a fixed cutter. This head is bypreference held only by friction on the upper handlesection, so thatitmay be readily removed; but, if desired, it may fastened securely onsaid section in any preferred manner. The upper edge portion of the headis notched or provided with \l-shaped incisions or scallops 3 to formoblique or slanting teeth. 4c, in connection with which the cutterhereinafter described cooperates, the said notches being adapted toreceive the stems of the pieces of fruit when the device is pushedupward beneath the same in a manner readily understood.

The head 2 is rabl'ieted, as shown at 5, to form a seat or bearing for amovable or rotary cutter 6, the latter being adapted to turn oroscillate around the head when actuated by the connections hereinafterdescribed. The cutter 6 is provided with notches 7 and oblique orslanting cutting edges 8, similar to those in the head 2 and of the samesize and number to register therewith, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cutter 6 is provided with a horizontallyelongated slot 9, throughwhich projects a pin or stud 10, which acts to prevent the displacementof the cutter from the head and yet allow a limited amount of rotarymovement of the cutter around the head, in which operation the stems ofthe fruit are severed by the cooperation of the two sets of slantingteeth.

The cutter-operating mechanism comprises a lever having in addition toits main arm 11 a spring-receiving arm 12 and a cutter-connecting arm13. The lever is arc-shaped to partially embrace the head 2, to which itis pivotally connected at 14. The arm 13 is slotted, as shown at 15, toreceive a pin or stud 16, projecting from the movable cutter 6, wherebysaid lever-arm is adapted to actuate the cutter and partially revolve orturn the same. The arm 12 of the lever is connected INM by a spring 17to the upper tubular handlesection, said spring acting to return thecutter to its normal position after it has severed the fruit-stem, inwhich normal position the teeth or notches of the parts '2 and 6register.

in order to throw the movable cutter and sever a stem, the main arm ofthe lever has connected thereto a wire or other flexible strand or cord18, which extends downward lengthwise of the handle and connects at itsopposite or lower end to a hand-operated ring 19, journaled upon thelower end of the lowermost handle-section. The ring 19 has an inclinedslot 20, through which projects a limiting guide-pin 2,1, which acts todepress the ring as the latter is turned. The lower end of theconnection '18 passes through a hole in an adjusting or tightening screw22 and is wrapped around said screw or otherwise secured, so that slackin said connection may be taken up by tightening the screw. The operatorby grasping the ring 19 and turning the same as far as the limitingmeans will permit causes the connection 18 to be drawn downward, therebyactuating the lever and moving the cutter 6, with the result abovestated. Upon releasing the ring 19 the spring 17 retracts the severalparts of the cutter mechanism in readiness for another operation.

If desired, the connection 18 may be left loose and dangling at itslower end, so that it may be operated by a simple downward pull on thepart of the operator. The handle-sections may be connected or jointed attheir meeting ends in any way to produce a handle or stock which will berigid as a whole. These as well as other changes in the form,proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A. fruit-picking machine comprising a handle, an annular head thereonhaving teeth, a rotary cutter acting in conjunction with said teeth, acutter-operating lever partially encirrescue cling the head, and meansfor rocking said lever.

2. A fruit-picking machine comprising a rigid tubular handle, an annularhead concentric thereon having teeth, a rotary cutter acting inconjunction with said teeth, a lever partially embracing the head andhaving a pinrality of arms one of which connects with the cutter, andmeans for rocking said lever.

3. A fruit-picking machine comprising a rigid tubular handle, an annularhead thereon provided with teeth, a rotary cutter having a plurality ofcutting edges which cooperate with said teeth, a hand-operated ringjournaled around the handle, and operating connections between said ringand cutter and operable by turning said ring.

4:. A fruit-picking machine comprising a rigid tubular handle, anannular head thereon having teeth, a rotary cutter having a plurality ofcutting edges which cooperate with said teeth, a hand-operated ringjournaled around the handle, a lever connected with the cutter, and aflexible connection between said ring and lever operable by turning saidring.

5. A :t'ruit-piclring machine comprising a rigid tubular conduit handle,an annular head thereon having teeth, a rotary cutter having cu tting-teeth which cooperate with the teeth on the head, a cutter-operatinglever, a hand-operated ring journaled around the handle, and a flexibleconnection joining said ring and lever and passing along the side wallof the tubular handle and operable by turning the ring.

6. A fruit-picking machine comprising a tubular handle, an annular headthereon having teeth, a rotary cutter having cutting-teeth whichcooperate with the teeth on the head, a spring-retractedcutter-operating lever par tially encircling the handle, a hand-operatedring journaled around the handle, and operating connections between saidring and lever. in testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

AMOS CHURCHILL PITMAN. Witnesses:

W. H. WAY, JAS. F, T)EAOY.

